This week, amidst Israel and Gaza’s ceasefire, Trump’s statements raise concerns. Officials continue demolishing bunkers as part of peace plan for Pakistani district. M23 declares and immediately breaks ceasefire in DRC.
Amidst Israel and Gaza’s ceasefire, Trump’s statements raise concerns
The ceasefire between Israel and Gaza is continuing so far, with more hostages and Palestinian prisoners returning to their homes. On February 2, three Israeli hostages were exchanged for 183 Palestinian prisoners.
Amidst the fragile ceasefire, US President Donald Trump has made statements that have raised concerns. At a press conference on February 4, Trump suggested that Gaza could become the “riviera of the Middle East” under US rule, and discussed relocating Gaza’s population.
UN secretary general António Guterres said he planned to warn Trump against ethnic cleansing when addressing the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People later on Feb 5. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that Guterres would reaffirm commitment to the two-state solution, Straights Times reported.
Trump’s officials later suggested that any relocation would only be temporary.
Officials continue demolishing bunkers as part of peace plan for Pakistani district
As part of their attempts to enforce a peace agreement, officials in Pakistan’s Kurram district are continuing to demolish bunkers. Tribal News Network (TNN) reported on February 5 that over 30 bunkers had been destroyed in Lower Kurram, noting that government sources estimate that over 250 bunkers exist throughout the district.
The most recent wave of violence in Kurram began on November 21, when gunmen attacked a vehicle convoy and killed 52 people, mostly shias. Despite a peace deal reached on January 1 between Sunni and Shia tribes in Kurram, militants attacked an aid convoy in the district on January 16. Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ali said that one soldier had been killed, and four others wounded in the attack, with three convoy vehicles damaged. After the attack on the aid convoy, there was a military-led operation to clear areas of the district of militants.
Since then, there has been slow progress at restoring stability to Kurram’s residents. A relief convoy of 61 vehicles reached Pakistan’s conflicted Kurram district on January 22, carrying flour, sugar, fruits, medicine, and vegetables.
The removal of the bunkers was a key clause in the agreement between the warring parties.
M23 Declares and Immediately Breaks Ceasefire in DRC
The M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire in the country’s eastern region on February 3, with the ceasefire set to start February 4. But on February 5, reports had already emerged of the rebels breaking the ceasefire to launch a new offensive to seize a town in South Kivu province.
Following the operation, DRC’s government spokesman Patrick Muyaya called the ceasefire a “ploy,” while speaking to AFP.
Since M23 captured Goma on January 27, nearly 3,000 people have been killed. Vivian van de Perre, deputy head of the UN mission in DR Congo, told media on February 5 that “We expect these numbers to go up.” Meanwhile, reports surfaced on February 5 of brutal sexual violence and killing of hundreds of women in a Goma prison.
On February 6, Peace News Network (PNN) published an on-the ground report interviewing the displaced victims of violence in Goma and eastern DRC, including photos of the devastation. To read our report by Anicet Kimonyo, click here.
Keywords: Israel, Gaza, Palestine, Pakistan, Congo, DRC, ceasefire, hostages, Trump, conflict, conflict resolution, peace
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
